Golf glove for maintaining the thumb of a user in a specific predetermined position for grip enhancing

ABSTRACT

An improved golf glove of the type having a slit laterally expanded when a hand is inserted, formed in a lower end portion of a back region of a glove body, and engaging portions for closing the slit after the hand is inserted are attached to the back region and include a flap extending from one side of the slit and having one portion of hook and loop fasteners on one side thereof and a mating portion of hook and loop fasteners on the other side of the slit for being selectively engaged by the one portion of hook and loop fasteners during use. The improvement includes the flap having another portion of hook and loop fasteners that is a same portion as the portion of the hook and loop fasteners, but is on the other side of the flap, and a second flap extending from the lower end portion of the back region of the glove body, via an elastic strip that facilitates the engagement of the second flap with the another portion of hook and loop fasteners, and having thereon another portion of hook and loop fasteners that is a same portion as the mating portion of the hook and loop fasteners and which engages the another portion of hook and loop fasteners after the flap engages the mating portion of hook and loop fasteners, and together therewith, maintain the thumb of the user in the specific predetermined position for the grip enhancing.

1. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A. Field of the Invention

The embodiments of the present invention relate to a golf glove, and more particularly, the embodiments of the present invention relate to a golf glove for maintaining the thumb of a user in a specific predetermined position for grip enhancing.

B. Description of the Prior Art

Numerous innovations for gloves have been provided in the prior art, which will be described below in chronological order to show advancement in the art. Even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, however, they differ from the embodiments of the present invention in that they do not teach a golf glove for maintaining the thumb of a user in a specific predetermined position for grip enhancing.

(1) U.S. Pat. No. 3,105,972 to Christopher.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,105,972 issued to Christopher on Oct. 8, 1963 in U.S. class 2 and subclass 161 teaches an apparatus for gripping golf clubs and analogous articles. A glove has a back portion, a palm portion, finger stalls and a thumb area, and a wrist. An elastic band is secured at one end to the palm portion of the glove adjacent the thumb area and at an inclination from the latter toward the wrist transversely of the palm portion. A first attaching member is secured to the back portion of the glove and spaced from the thumb area, and a second attaching member is secured to the other end portion of the band and cooperating with the first member for releasably securing the other end portion of the band to the back portion of the glove with the band under tension. The band is of a width to clear the thumb and index finger and to overlie the other fingers of a hand grasping the grip of a golf club, when the band is secured under tension about the hand, leaving the thumb and index finger of the hand free of pressure exerted by the band.

(2) Great Britain Patent Application Publication Number GB1093338 to Stubbs.

Stubbs on Nov. 29, 1967 in international class A61115 and subclass 12 teaches a wrist support including a flexible band having an opening for a thumb, a first fastening member located adjacent the opening on one side of the band and a second fastening member located at or near the end of the band on the opposite side, both fastening members being attached to the same portion of the band on one side of the opening. The flexible band may be formed of cloth, leather, or of a plastic layer backed by a cloth layer. The fastening members may be hook and pile elements of Velcro tape (the word “Velcro” is a Trade Mark). Alternatively, snaps, hooks, or buttons may be utilized. Rigid structures may be attached to the band to extend transversely of the band either above or below the wrist.

(3) U.S. Pat. No. 4,796,306 to Mitchell.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,796,306 issued to Mitchell on Jan. 10, 1989 in U.S. class 2 and subclass 160 teaches a gripping glove having a plurality of elastic straps that are readily positionable to impose a selected gripping force to the fingers of a user to improve the user's grip. The gripping glove utilizes elastic straps selectively positionable by use of a releasable fastening surface, such as Velcro, to enable the tension force imposed by the straps to be readily changed including when the glove is in use.

(4) U.S. Pat. No. 4,882,787 to Hull et al.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,882,787 issued to Hull et al. on Nov. 28, 1989 in U.S. class 2 and subclass 161 teaches a golf glove in which only the ring finger and the little finger and a portion of the palm is covered leaving the index finger and the middle finger and a portion of the palm uncovered thus providing a compromise between the gloved “feel” and the barehanded “feel,” and which allows the golfer to easily put on or take off the gloves for putting or the like.

(5) U.S. Pat. No. 5,414,868 to Crawford.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,414,868 issued to Crawford on May 16, 1995 in U.S. class 2 and subclass 160 teaches a golf glove for assisting a golfer having a muscular impairment in maintaining the golfer's hand in proper gripping position about a golf club handle, which includes a pair of elongate straps fixed to the glove body at opposite sides of the thumb extension. Each strap has a fastener portion along its outwardly extending length, and a mating fastener arrangement at the backhand side of the glove body, including selected locations on the finger and thumb extensions, for securement of the straps when the golfer grips the club handle, thereby to retain the golfer's thumb and fingers in proper gripping disposition during swinging of the club.

(6) Japanese Patent Application Publication Number JP8332258 (A) to Takaaki.

Japanese Patent Number JP8332258 (A) published to Takaaki on Dec. 17, 1996 in international class A63B71 and subclass 14 teaches a glove for level-up practicing for mastering the tightening of the thumb of the right hand and the forefinger in the case of left-handed stroke being the basis of a golf, and tightening of the thumb and the forefinger of the left hand in the case of right-handed stroke. A belt for tightening of the thumb is attached to a glove, and a Magic Tape™ is affixed to the back side so that it can be used as a glove fitted with a thumb tightening belt.

(7) United States Patent Application Publication Number US 2002/0056156 A1 to Kambe et al.

United States Patent Application Publication Number US 2002/0056156 A1 published to Kambe et al. on May 16, 2002 in U.S. class 2 and subclass 161.2, as shown in FIG. 1, which is a prior art golf glove, teaches a golf glove 10 having a slit 12 that is laterally expanded when a hand is inserted is formed in a lower end portion 14 of a back region 16 of a glove body 18, and engaging portions 20, 22 for closing the slit 12 after the hand is inserted are attached to the back region 16. An imaginary line connecting the top portion and the bottom portion of the slit does not coincide with the longitudinal axis of the back region of the glove body, but is inclined to cause the top portion of the slit to be close to a little-finger portion of the back region, and the bottom portion of the slit to be close to an index-finger portion of the back region, thereby forming the slit so as to inclinedly elongate. The engaging portions 20, 22 include a flap 24 extending from one side of the slit 12 and having one portion 26 of hook and loop fasteners on one side 27 thereof and a mating portion 28 of hook and loop fasteners on the other side of the slit 12 for being selectively engaged by the one portion 26 of hook and loop fasteners during use.

(8) United States Patent Application Publication Number US 2004/0060097 A1 to Bamber.

United States Patent Application Publication Number US 2004/0060097 A1 published to Bamber on Apr. 1, 2004 in U.S. class 2 and subclass 161.1 teaches a sports glove, such as a golf glove, baseball batting glove, or other type of glove. In one embodiment, the sports glove has a fastener made of a breathable material. In another embodiment, the sports glove has a fastener with apertures therein. In another embodiment, the sports glove has a container joined thereto that can be used for storing the glove after use. In another embodiment, the sports glove is provided with one or more regions including extensible material. In another embodiment, the sports glove is provided with an extensible fastener. In some embodiments, any portion of the glove, such as the fingers and/or the palm and back of the glove, may be provided in a pre-formed curved configuration.

(9) U.S. Pat. No. Des. 527,149 to Bonzagni et al.

U.S. Pat. No. Des. 527,149 issued to Bonzagni et al. on Aug. 22, 2006 in U.S. class D29 and subclass 116.1 teaches the ornamental design for a golf glove thumb.

(10) International Patent Application Publication Number WO 2009000956 A1 to Pablo.

International Patent Application Publication Number WO 2009000956 A1 published to Pablo on Dec. 31, 2008 in international class A41D19 and subclass 00 teaches a glove made from a sheet of neoprene that is punched by hand with a predetermined template, depending on the model, thereby supplying the shape of the glove, which is similar to the shape of standard gloves, but leaves the medial and distal phalanges of the fingers bare. The sheet is covered with one or two layers of polyamide by way of a thermal-sealing system. Although it is not a feature of all models, the back is normally formed by a double mesh of nylon. An interdigital elastic textile joins these two meshes to the neoprene. The finger ends have a edging. In the wrist zone a velcro strip closes the glove and is finished in a narrow strip of polyamide.

(11) Japanese Patent Application Publication Number JP2009005770 (A1) to Naoki.

Japanese Patent Application Publication Number JP2009005770 (A1) issued to Naoki on Jan. 15, 2009 in international class A63B71 and subclass 14 teaches a sports glove preventing a stuffy state in the glove by vent holes and preventing disadvantages caused by the vent holes. The glove is configured such that a strap portion for adjusting wearing feeling is attached to a back portion, and the back portion and the strap portion are freely attached to and detached from each other through a pair of hook-and-loop fasteners. In the glove, the hook-and-loop fastener of the back portion is formed with an inside vent hole and a cloth of the strap portion and the hook-and-loop fastener are formed with an outside vent hole, a display member having a double structure of a base plate portion and a roof portion is attached to the strap portion so as to cover the outside vent hole, a part of the base plate portion covered with a roof portion is provided with through-holes communicating with the outside vent hole, and a vent port is provided between the base plate portion and the roof portion.

It is apparent that numerous innovations for gloves have been provided in the prior art, which are adapted to be used. Furthermore, even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, however, they would not be suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described, namely, a golf glove for maintaining the thumb of a user in a specific predetermined position for grip enhancing.

2. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus, it is an object of the embodiments of the present invention to provide a golf glove for maintaining the thumb of a user in a specific predetermined position for grip enhancing, which avoids the disadvantages of the prior art.

Briefly stated, another object of the embodiments of the present invention is to provide an improved golf glove of the type having a slit laterally expanded when a hand is inserted, formed in a lower end portion of a back region of a glove body, and engaging portions for closing the slit after the hand is inserted are attached to the back region and include a flap extending from one side of the slit and having one portion of hook and loop fasteners on one side thereof and a mating portion of hook and loop fasteners on the other side of the slit for being selectively engaged by the one portion of hook and loop fasteners during use. The improvement includes the flap having another portion of hook and loop fasteners that is a same portion as the portion of the hook and loop fasteners, but is on the other side of the flap, and a second flap extending from the lower end portion of the back region of the glove body, via an elastic strip that facilitates the engagement of the second flap with the another portion of hook and loop fasteners, and having thereon another portion of hook and loop fasteners that is a same portion as the mating portion of the hook and loop fasteners and which engages the another portion of hook and loop fasteners after the flap engages the mating portion of hook and loop fasteners, and together therewith, maintain the thumb of the user in the specific predetermined position for the grip enhancing.

The novel features considered characteristic of the embodiments of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims. The embodiments of the present invention themselves, however, both as to their construction and to their method of operation together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of the specific embodiments when read and understood in connection with the accompanying drawings.

3. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The figures of the drawings are briefly described as follows:

FIG. 1 is a prior art golf glove;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the golf glove of the embodiments of the present invention maintaining the thumb of a user in a specific predetermined position for grip enhancing;

FIG. 3 is another diagrammatic perspective view of the golf glove of the embodiments of the present invention maintaining the thumb of a user in a specific predetermined position for grip enhancing; and

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the golf glove of the embodiments of the present invention shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

4. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS UTILIZED IN THE DRAWING A. Prior art.

10 golf glove

12 slit

14 lower end portion of back region 16 of glove body 18

16 back region of glove body 18

18 glove body

20 engaging portion for closing slit 12 after hand is inserted

22 engaging portion for closing slit 12 after hand is inserted

24 flap

26 one portion of hook and loop fasteners

27 one side of flap 24

28 mating portion of hook and loop fasteners for being selectively engaged by one portion 26 of hook and loop fasteners during use.

B. General.

30 golf glove of embodiments of present invention for maintaining thumb 32 of user 34 in specific predetermined position for grip enhancing

32 thumb of user 34

34 user

C. Configuration of golf glove 10.

36 another portion of hook and loop fasteners

38 other side of flap 24

40 second flap

42 another portion of hook and loop fasteners

44 elastic strip

5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A. General.

Referring now to the figures, in which like numerals indicate like parts, and particularly to FIGS. 2 and 3, which are, respectively, a diagrammatic perspective view of the golf glove of the embodiments of the present invention maintaining the thumb of a user in a specific predetermined position for grip enhancing, and another diagrammatic perspective view of the golf glove of the embodiments of the present invention maintaining the thumb of a user in a specific predetermined position for grip enhancing, the golf glove of the embodiments of the present invention is shown generally at 30 for maintaining the thumb 32 of a user 34 in a specific predetermined position for grip enhancing.

B. The Configuration of the Golf Glove 10.

The configuration of the golf glove 30 can best be seen in FIG. 4, which is a diagrammatic perspective view of the golf glove of the embodiments of the present invention shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto.

The golf glove 30 comprises the flap 24 having another portion 36 of hook and loop fasteners that is a same portion as the portion 26 of the hook and loop fasteners, but is on the other side 38 of the flap 24.

The glove golf 30 further comprises a second flap 40. The second flap 40 extends from the lower end portion 14 of the back region 16 of the glove body 18, outboard of the mating portion 28 of hook and loop fasteners, has thereon another portion 42 of hook and loop fasteners that is a same portion as the mating portion 28 of the hook and loop fasteners, and engages the another portion 36 of hook and loop fasteners after the flap 24 engages the mating portion 28 of hook and loop fasteners, and in toto, maintain the thumb 32 of the user 34 in the specific predetermined position for the grip enhancing.

The second flap 40 attaches to the lower end portion 14 of the back region 16 of the glove body 18 via an elastic strip 44. The elastic strip 44 of the second flap facilitates the engagement of the second flap 40 with the another portion 36 of hook and loop fasteners.

C. Impression.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

While the embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described as embodied in a golf glove for maintaining the thumb of a user in a specific predetermined position for grip enhancing, however, they are not limited to the details shown, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions, and changes in the forms and details of the embodiments of the present invention illustrated and their operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the embodiments of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the embodiments of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt them for various applications without omitting features from the standpoint of prior art fairly constitute characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of the embodiments of the present invention. 

1. An improved golf glove of the type having a slit that is laterally expanded when a hand is inserted formed in a lower end portion of a back region of a glove body, and engaging portions for closing the slit after the hand is inserted are attached to the back region and include a flap extending from one side of the slit and having one portion of hook and loop fasteners on one side thereof and a mating portion of hook and loop fasteners on the other side of the slit for being selectively engaged by the one portion of hook and loop fasteners during use, wherein said improvement comprises: the flap having another portion of hook and loop fasteners that is a same portion as the portion of the hook and loop fasteners, but is on the other side of the flap.
 2. The improved golf glove of claim 1, wherein said improvement further comprises a second flap.
 3. The improved golf glove of claim 2, wherein said improvement further comprises said second flap extending from the lower end portion of the back region of the glove body, outboard of the mating portion of hook and loop fasteners.
 4. The improved golf glove of claim 3, wherein said improvement further comprises said second flap having thereon another portion of hook and loop fasteners that is a same portion as the mating portion of the hook and loop fasteners, and which engages the another portion of hook and loop fasteners after the flap engages the mating portion of hook and loop fasteners, and together therewith, maintain the thumb of the user in the specific predetermined position for the grip enhancing.
 5. The improved golf glove of claim 4, wherein said improvement further comprises said second flap attaching to the lower end portion of the back region of the glove body via an elastic strip that facilitates the engagement of the second flap with another portion of hook and loop fasteners. 